Study of Radiation-induced Fatigue Emphasizes Variety and Need for Intervention

Fatigue following radiation therapy is a multidimensional dynamic that ranges from the general to the specific, according to a study in the Nov. 17, 2009, Cancer.

“The objective of the current study was to investigate cancer-related fatigue in a radiotherapy sample using a multidimensional conceptualization to determine whether correlates of fatigue are consistent across all dimensions or whether each fatigue dimension has its own unique pattern of correlates,” wrote the authors of “A Multidimensional Examination of Correlates of Fatigue During Radiotherapy.”

Amanda Purcell et al collected data from 210 participants before, after and six weeks following radiation therapy. They found that increased general fatigue was associated with, “lower performance status, being in a de facto relationship, depression, having treatment to the brain and reduced vigorous physical activity.”

In turn, the factors associated with increased physical fatigue included lower performance status, depression, reduced physical activity, reduced productive hours and nausea.

“Higher levels of reduced activity were associated with depression, decreased participation in activities of daily living, decreased number of productive hours and lower performance status.”

Reduced motivation was related to radiation therapy to the brain, reduced moderate physical activity and depression, with increased mental fatigue linked to a brain tumor diagnosis, anxiety, depression and sleep problems.

“The results of the current study support the recognition of multiple dimensions of fatigue because each dimension examined had various correlates,” concluded the authors. “These findings further develop our understanding of fatigue and may help clinicians provide more targeted information to people with cancer-related fatigue.”

The study can be found at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/ journal/122686497.